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Two DHS officials promoted, one resigns

Two DHS officials promoted, one resigns

   The Department of Homeland Security named Douglas L. Hoelscher to be executive director for the department’s homeland security advisory committees and Jeffrey Runge as acting undersecretary for science and technology.

   Hoelscher will be part of the new Office of Policy and serve as the primary representative to the Homeland Security Advisory Committee, more than 20 departmental boards and commissions, and two presidential commissions on national infrastructure and telecommunications security. He previously was the department’s liaison to the White House.

   The Homeland Security Advisory Committee comprises 21 representatives from state and local governments, and the private sector who provide advice to the secretary of homeland security.

   Runge, a former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will continue his current job as the department’s chief medical officer.

   The Science and Technology Directorate is the department’s research and development branch working on next-generation devices and systems to detect, prevent and respond to chemical, nuclear, biological or explosive attacks.

   Meanwhile, DHS said Matthew Broderick resigned as director of operations. The Office of Operations Coordination was established last year by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to coordinate the department’s activities and information sharing with state and local governments, advisory committees and the private sector.